Pacific Emporium - Peranakan Afternoon Tea

Back at our favourite tea-place - Pacific Emporium. We have been there once and couldn't stop telling how nice the place was and good the food was to the husband (who didn't join us previously). So, it was only fair to experience it with him this time round so he doesn't feel to left out. Pacific Emporium is truly one of most guarded gems of Singapore. 

For ambience, you get a private cubicle (the kids to love to call it a space ship) and it is surrounded by water, giving you the waterside vibes. If you look up, you get to enjoy skylight and a gorgeous low-angle view of the place's architecture. Every time I am here, I just can't help taking different angled shots.

The tea menu was Peranakan-inspired (my favourite!) For those who enjoy the savoury food, you would love that this set comes with 2 mini local delight mains. There were 4 options and we picked the Nonya Laksa and the Babi Pongteh. Both were really good even as standalone dishes themselves. As a whole, this could totally serve as a late lunch. Even with the 2 kids to help with the nibbles, we still ended up bringing home leftovers. 

This set came with 2 set of beverages each, which keep you well hydrated throughout. For families of 4 (with young children under 12 year old), this works well because everyone can have a drink. This time round, it comes with an additional welcome drink - Nonya Bloom which my daughter really loved. 

The treats were super beautiful as always. The "Fish Tank" jelly was particularly beautiful and tasty too. The Hazelnut Praline Puff was quickly gobbled up by my children. The savory treats were slight fusion, but not too much such that it lost its Peranakan roots. I particularly love the Nyonya “Kerabu” with Baby Abalone. Yums. 

For weekend, it is S$68++ and kids under 6YO dine for free. 2 seatings at 1pm and 4pm. So you can do a late lunch or early dinner. I personally prefer the 1pm slot. 2 hours is a pretty good timing to set aside so that you can chill and soak in the good vibes <3

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** To get additional discounts, you can use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

CocoArt - DIY Crafts

CocoArt  had a few outlets around town and we were always curious about it. We found a day which we were pretty free and decided to give it a go. There were a lot of activities available and it was not too expensive. Depending on which outlet you went, some had more activities or even longer-term courses. We went to the Westgate Outlet which focused a lot more on the smaller crafts. 

The children eventually decide to design their own pop sockets and hairclips which was well within time frame and price point. They got to pick a fondant colour each. But because we got 2 sets, they could sort of mix and match (i.e. the more people you come with, the wider variety of colours you will get!)

We were given mini baskets to fill it with mini decorations. There were a lot of cute charms and it took really long for me to settle on mine. Initially, we were kinda of greedy and grabbed quite a bit of the bigger sized charms. The adults came to realise in order to make "proper designs", you couldn't really pick more than 3. The children didn't go for the conventional rules and my son ended up making a topper. LOL!

The process could be pretty fast if you could be decisive on what you plan to do. Unfortunately for them, Mummy was the slowest when it comes to such things cos she is a hopeless perfectionist. The kids headed off to blowdrying their crafts, while I slowly assembled mine. We were given a plastic boxes after to store them so that they could keep their shape and continue to dry as we continue our day out. Would really recommend this place if you are just bored and out of ideas. Staff was very friendly. Thumbs up!

Such a Steal: Treatsure

I have seen many influencers/ youtubers doing this and I always wanted to try it. Basically, it is a buffet-leftover takeaway box. At around S$10+, you are given a bento box which you can fill to the brim with whatever food that is available. That includes seafoods, roast etc., unless it is specifically stated to be an exclusion. Not only was this kind to your pockets, it was also help to reduce food waste. 

Since I had a late lunch day, I decided to give it go. Each place would only have a few lunch boxes available, so it doesn't work if you are there specifically for it because you might be disappointed. Also, the deal can only take place around 1.45pm, after the normal lunch hours. If you are used to an early lunch or have fixed lunch hours, this won't work.

True enough, you are allowed to check out the quantity and choice of leftovers before committing. I got the last box and most of the more pricey items were snagged. I decided to go for what I like and filled up my 2 portion of my box with blue-pea rice and vegetables. The rest were stacked with my favourite meats - beef and friend chicken. It was satisfying to fill my box to the brim! And frankly for a girl, this was way too much food. I think it is good enough for 2 pax. 

Supposedly, I was to share this, this would fall into the normal lunch budget with a wider variety and hotel-level quality sides. Overall, this really is one of my best gem finds. You just need to download treatsure app and you can find more goodies within it. But...I won't recommend the buffet-takeway-bento for your everyday meal. Because it is not sustainable in the long run. Overly rich food would lead to health issues and you will grow sick of this if you were to have this everyday. 

Day Trip to JB for the girlies

I think I am pretty late into the game. But I am starting to enjoy the "retirement life" where you gather your friends on a weekday to charge into JB. One thing for sure, JB helps to stretch our sing dollar and let you have a better bang for your buck. Here's a itinerary which I went together with my friends for a short day out! I have compiled the best from 2 trips with 2 separate groups to create the ultimate day out guide. 

Breakfast at Roast & Coffee

I thought their steamed chicken was really soft and yummy. Their drinks were really on point too. Best of all, it is affordable! They sell other local delights if you want something else. At the same street, you will find Hiap Joo Bakery selling the supposedly famous banana cake. (I think it is so-so only, but I know people who love it) So it is quite a good spot to visit and settle breakfast/ bunch. 

The Hidden Farm 

For lovers of petting places, this is quite a must-go. I don't find their entrance fees particularly cheap (S$16 for adults) for locals, but for Singaporeans it is quite affordable. There is a good variety of furies and even reptiles for you to carry, feed and pet. There is even my current obsession - the fennec fox. It is not compulsory to get any food that and that is great because there is not many people in their cafes. If you are not into petting animals, I would suggest to give this a pass because, there isn't anything else near there. 

Head Spa

For the girlies, this is really quite a nice try. It is really expensive in Singapore. So while we were there, we just max-ed it out and took the most expensive and longest treatment (~around 2.5 hr). Note: You can choose a treatment based on your available time/ budget.  It was a really interesting experience for me. I found it rather ticklish and hard to relax. I would prefer more shoulder massage. We did ours at Queen Hair Studio. I like the amenities cos it is really clean and the service is good. I would probably be back for other treatments. You can try it at other places too.

Late Lunch at Eden by Wizards

A lot of influencers have raved about this place, so I don't think it is unknown. I asked my local friends and they also recommended this. Upon stepping in, I can understand why. It is a really well-designed cafe that lets you walk into a quaint space to enjoy a serene meal. You can't really speak and laugh that loudly because this place traps sound. The food is decent and well priced. It is basically good cafe food at half the price you would have had in Singapore. I really like it and I do see myself coming back once every 4 trips to try out different items on the menu. Did you see how big the crab is and the pie, which was not even in the mains, was huge!

Massage at Borneo Oasis

Just to clarify, I don't think this is the cheapest massage place. But I feel this is made for Singaporeans. If you are like me who is icky about cleanliness, this probably suits you. It is probably a little fancy for their local standards and the staff thoroughly pampers you. The strength of the massage was good and I felt so sleepy and relaxed after. Pss, they do hair spa here too. If you come in a bigger group or come here for a full suite of services, you can enjoy a better discount price. 

After this, I usually head back to the malls for my shopping fixes and settle my dinner there. No specific recommendations because the food options at the malls are rather generic and of acceptable standards. It is always a rush affair for me because when I shop I forget the time. Oops!!!

My First Official Ballet - Swan Lake

After watching my first ever ballet (you can read my experience here), I decided to go for the real deal. To be quite fair, most Singaporeans like myself don't quite really know much to expect. I managed to snag a deal during the SG60 promo so I only paid S$60 per pax for rather decent seats. To make the deal even sweeter, I bought at Sands itself and got some cash credits which I used to spend on the drinks and snacks while enjoying the show. Note: The food served is pretty tasty and affordable. 

For the curious, the ballerinas dance throughout the whole show with no dialogue. This time round, I didn't pre-read anything, yet I still could somewhat catch the gist of the whole storyline. The choreography was definitely more sophisticated. And because the troupe was bigger, the set-up could be more impressive. I also got to see more ballet variations. It was a great eye-opener. My only grouse was that there was no live orchestra.  

Unlike a musical, there was less fanfare and merchandise to be bought. Also I realised that apart from the iconic piece, the rest of the score was rather forgettable. There is still some fascination with ballet from me and it is really amazing how graceful every pose and movement can be. I will definitely be catching a few more iconic ballets from the professional troupes and maybe watch with ballerinas who can shed more light. If you are a ballerina, please feel free to drop me messages so that I can learn more about your craft. 

This is the first time in 175 years that the The State Ballet of Georgia is debuting in Singapore. Only at 

the Sands Theatre from September 11 to 14, 2025. :)

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Swan Lake Tickets: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/137712-swan-lake-state-ballet-of-georgia-at-the-sands-theatre/

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

GBTB: Alpine Adventure

One of my favourite event hall is the Flower Fields Hall at Gardens by the Bay. You may not know, but attendees are always given free entrance to visit the Floral Dome. I like the Floral Dome because they do update the theme very frequently and I will get to enjoy a new scene. Although I have to admit, I do walk through them pretty fast, especially if I am there too frequently (which I may be this year)...at least 4 times there already!

During my visit there, it was Alpine Adventure and I got to enjoy the view of Zurich/ Switzerland (a place I have never been to) so I can't vouch how authentic the designs were. There was a fake cable car and alpine at the entrance. There were so many people that day, I couldn't even score a proper scenery shot, let alone a selfie. 

Usually, I don't come to the Floral Dome in the evening/ night. My phone could definitely capture better shots in the day. The view was a little different with the lights and all, but I would still recommend the day view. So funny story, because I have been here one time too many, I realised they recycled the props. Haha. The cow is definitely a repeat!

For those who are curious the Flower Fields Hall, I am not sure there they get their catered food from. Generally, it is ok, not fantastic. But with the lights hanging on their high ceilings, it gives a very magical vibe. I prefer their light bites over their sit-down events. Acoustic in the hall is terrible, I always can't make a proper conversation because of the deafening performances on stage. 

Floral Dome - Alpine Adventure: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/127-gardens-by-the-bay-singapore/

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

Jurassic World - The Experience

A few of my friends and some of my new overseas counterparts went for Jurassic Part - The Experience and were raving about it. Since the children has been reading about dinosaurs, we decided we should be there. We went for Avatar: The Experience before (you can read about out post here), so I knew how suitable the Cloud Forest was for movies like this. And I am glad to say it sure didn't disappoint. 

To provide some context, I know the Cloud Forest pretty well like the back of my hand, given how many times I have been there. It would be quite difficult to keen me excited and anticipating. Also, I even went to watch a video tour on this. Still it kept me spellbound and I spent around 1.5hrs inside. 

Everything was hyper realistic. It was almost as good as Walking with Dinosaurs. The T-rex especially when it roared just made everything all so worth it. Not all were figurines and some could move, bringing some realism. A portion of the tour areas was made into labs etc. and the immersion felt surreal with some role-playing involved. One of the dinosaurs at the lab spat at the children, driving them wild with fear and some excitement. 

There was also photo-taking opportunities which allowed you to pet a baby dinosaur. The children were extremely excited and couldn't keep their eyes off it (I petted it twice too). Tips: the digital copies are way cheaper it fits different backdrop to it. You can print at home at a way cheaper price! S$20 for 10 digital photos and videos with 2 different poses. Plus the photopass card is pretty and can be kept for a souvenir. 

(Psst, I think the price was adjusted upwards from S$10. WTF!)

Crystal Mountain - the most underappreciated exhibit at Cloud Forest was finally transformed into something interactive. The children had a lot of fun with it. Honestly, even though the crystals were so much more informative, it just couldn't engage anyone. Even I felt it was boring in the past and would quickly stroll past it. Not sure whether this is a permanent feature but is still better being sidelined. 

For this exhibition, I think the day view and the evening view would do more justice to it. Such a must go, don't miss it. Jurassic World - The Experience will be here until 31 December 2025. The souvenirs though really cute, were darn expensive. The cheapest if you want to get something decent would be the magnets or the collectible pins!

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Jurassic World The Experience: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/127-gardens-by-the-bay-singapore/

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

Food Tour 61: Just bursting our Budgets

It is the time of the month where we try to eat a little luxuriously. What we realise is that not all expensive stuff are always good and worth its value. 

1. Miyoshi

This place was frigging expensive. We went for the set lunch. It was good, but definitely not worth the hundreds we were paying. At that price point, we would have a lot of options that gave better bangs for our bucks. The lobster was fresh and slain on the spot, but given that it was cooked in a broth, the freshness honestly wouldn't change the flavour of the dish much. Ambience was great, but not a place I would go again given that it was quite out of the way at Sentosa. 

2. Shashlik

I have been here multiple times. I kind of like how it is located at the top level of the worn Far East Shopping Centre. When you walk in through their doors, it brings you into another world. There is an old retro western charm to it. Most of their staff are quite aged, so we tend to speak Mandarin to them. For frequent customers (not us yet), they would even engage you in chit-chat like old friends. There is something warm about this place. 

The food is absolutely delicious. I swear I aim to eat every single item on the menu. Nothing has ever disappoint me to me. My favourite is Borshch soup and bone marrow. I never miss their desserts cos I love their flame show. In terms of price, you will end up around S$100+ per pax but I am fine with the bill because it is worth every penny. 

3. Atlas Bar

This place isn't named the top bar in the world for nothing. It is drop-dead gorgeous. Tourists and influencers come here to take photos. It screams opulence and feels outside of Singapore. It was so hard to get a seating so we had to settle for weekday lunch. The food is alright and so is the price. The alcohol was not cheap, but the cocktail was positively the best I had ever. I could have drank myself silly if I didn't have to pay. I don't think you should come for the food. But one thing for sure, I know I am coming back whenever I need a drink. *Winks*